Apparatus for pickling



April' 12, 1932 J. D. wlLLxAMs 1,853,888

APPARATUS FOR P I CKLING Filed Feb. 18, 1931 /NvEAh/Tof? mf To Naro Patented A'pr. 12, 1932 JQHN D. WILLIAMS, F NILES, OHO

. APPARATUS FOR PICKLING 1 Application med February 1s, 1931. serial No. 516,540.

. My invention relates to the pickling of ferrous sheets and other articles during the coursepof their manufacture for the purpose of freeing them from scale and more particu- '5' larly to the pickling crates ordinarily employed in sheet mills and the like for supporting the sheets or other metal products in the pickling tank in which they are subjected to l the action 0f a p'ickling solution.

Itli'as heretofore been the practice to employ for such purposes apickling crate comprising a grid or base in the form4 of a relatively heavy casting having .suitable holes adapted to respectively receive aplurality of pins known as pickle .pins which are maintained in upright position therein and which ,provide lateral support to the sheets when disposed edgewise on the grid or base. The .holes in the grid are usually tapered and the 2o' ends of the pins correspondingly tapered so as to hold the latter firmly in position but to permit them to be readily withdrawn when desired, the pins beingcu'stomarily made of 5, bronze, Monel metal, or other acid resistant metalliccompositions which are not attacked by the pickling solution.

When crates of the character just described areemployed for pickling sheets, some of the latter may, and usuallyv do, rest against the opins so that when the lpins are of'different `metallic composition from the sheets and in the presence ofthe acid pickling solution, a galvanic action is produced betweenv the pins .and those sheets in contact therewith which may result in the deposition` of copper or vother metal on the sheets'at'or adjacent their points of Contact with the pins. Although such deposits are u sually initially in the form .of comparatively small spots on the surfaces 40 `of the sheets, it is customary to further roll the latter after pickling and this operation frequently so enlarges tle spots of copper or otherpfor/eign metal that they then extend .over a-relatively large area on the surfaces of the finished sheets and render the latter unfit for many uses requiring surfaces of uniform metallic character.4 vThis is particularly true in the case of full finished sheets intended for -automobile bodies, fenders, or the like, since such spots usually have a noticeable effect be accidentally upollnamel, lacquer or other finishes a plied thereto; that is, the enamel in the vicimty of each spot has a different appearance' from that covering the unspotted portions of the sheet with the result that such spotted sheets cannot be sold for such purposes.

Another disadvantage of pickling crates heretofore use'd'has been that the sheets are frequentlyfsubjected to scratching or denting through contact with the pickle pins and the w surfaces of the sheets are thus'm'arred in such a way as to detract from their suitability for many uses.

A principalobj ect of the'present invention, therefore, is to provide a ypi'cklilng crate in 5 which the sheets are prevented from metallic contact with the pickling pins', whereby galvanic action between the pins and thesheets when in the pickling tank is avoided.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a, pickle crate means which, while enabling the pickle pins to satisfactorily support the sheets in the crate, nevertheless preventscratchin or other damage to the sheets during the pic ling process.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form of pickling crate in which galvanic action between several parts of the crate itself is avoided even when such parts are formed of different metals whereby 30 the operative life of the crate is thereby substantially lengthened.

A still further object of `my invention is to provide an improved pickle pin which is satisfactorily operative to support the mas.; terial in a pickle crate without the necessity for metallic Contact therewith and in which is .incorporated means tending to prevent breakage of the ins themselves should'they (Piropped upon the Hoor orto upon an other hardsurface while being refmoved rom or inserted in the grid'of the pickling crate.

D My -inventionfurther contemplates the provision of anovel method of pickling fer- 0a rous articles while supported in a picklin crate embodying parts of non-ferrous meta whereby electrolytic action between the'articles and said non-ferrous parts is prevented A with resultant avoidance of the deposition on the articles of spots or areas of a dissimilar metal.

Other purposes, objects and advantages of the .present invention are hereinafter more particularly mentioned or will appear trom the fol-lowing description thereof during which reference will be had vto the accom panying drawings.

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of pickle crate constructed in accordance with my invention and in which the means for'preventing contact between the sheets and the `pickle pins are shown in somewhat exaggerated proportions for the sake of clearness; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevation of the mate7 partly broken away into vertical section, and showing a plurality or" sheets disposed therein in position for pickling;

3 is an enlargedv fragmentary detail of the upper end of one of my improved pickle pins and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing another form thereof; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the lower portion of one of the pickle pins disposed in its socket in the base or grid of the pickling crate; and Figs. 5a and 5b are similar views on a reduced scale respectively showing diferent ways of removably securing the pins in the base. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing one form of means which I -inay employ for prolon 'ng the life of the bickling crate by avoiding galvanic action between the pins and the base, and Fig.l 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but showing an-l other form of means adapted for a like purpose. In the several iigures, like characters are employed to designate the same parts.

Referring now more .particularly to the drawings, the pickle crate shown in Fig. 1 comprises a generally rectangular, elongated hase or grid l which may be ormed as a single casting in the usual way and provided with suitable Ahooks 2 or other means from which .the crate may be supported in the pickling tank. The base comprises ai plurality of transverse ribs 34 which are. provided with suitable downwardly tapered laterally spaced bores or sockets 4 adapted to receive and support in vertical position the pickle pins 5 hereinafter more particu-4 larly described. The sockets 4 and, in turn, the pins, are, as is usual, arranged in parallel rows longitudinally of the base as shown in Fig. 1 and divide the-crate into a plurality of sections in each of which a plurality of sheets S may be-disppsed on edge and thus supported principally on the base, the pickle pins being operative to maintain the -sheets in their desired substantially ver tical position.

The pickle pins 5, may be made of bronze, Monel metal or other metal suitably resistant to the acid of the pickling bath and possessed of requisite strength, are preferably tapered lars 9 which may be integrally vulcanizedy thereto in the annular depressions 7 as best shown in Fig. 3, or may be separately manu` factured and slipped onto the pins and vulcanized or otherwise secured to their exterior surfaces, if the depressions 7 are not employed. rlhe collars 9 are preferably formed or" rubber but any other suitable, desirably somewhat resilient, and electrically non-conductive material unaffected by the pickling bath maybe utilized. Similarly, vat the upper ends of the pickle pins I may provide cylindrical caps l() which may be formed of vulcanized rubber or other suitable non-conductive material and may be vulcanized or otherwise secured in position. In Fig. 4 I have shown a pin devoid of the depressions 7 and having collars of an internal diameter sub- I'stantially equal to that of the pin vulcanized to its outer surface or even merely slipped onto the pin and retained thereon by friction.

In the sockets 4 in the base I may employ or not, as desired, means to which I have reerred for preventing galvanic action between. the pins and the base, as it will be understood that when the base and the pins are formed of the Same material galvanic action between these parts will ordinarily not.

take place. When, however, the pins and the base are of different metals, I prefer to employ suitable bushings 12 in the sockets 4, forming the said bushings either integrally or in two or more parts from rubber or any other suitable material effective to electrically insulate the pins from the base when the bushings are inserted in the sockets 4 in the latter and the pins are inserted in the ta ered bores in the bushings. Thus, I have s own i in Fig. 6 a bushing 12 which comprises merely a taperedsleeve whose length is equal to l the lengthof the bore 4 and which is so roportioned asV to fit snugly therein an to provide a centrally `tapered bore adapted to receive the tapered lower end of the pin. In other cases the bushing may be vulcanized to the lower end of the pin so as to be removable from the socket therewith.

In Fig. 7 I have showna somewhat similar sleeve or bushing 12 provided with an annular flange 14 adjacent its lower end adapted,

to engage the lower face of the base 1 when lthe bushing is disposed in operative position therein and to prevent the sleeve from being pulled out of the bore 4 when the pin is removed. When bushings of this form are employed they may be made in separate parts or may be so constructed as to be sufficiently compressible to permit their insertion into the lower ends of the bores.

It is apparent from Fig. 2 that when sheets are disposed on edge on the base 1, the sheets adjacent the rows of pins are prevented from coming into contact with the metal parts thereof by the collars 9 and the caps 10 and thus the deposition of copper or any other metal constituent of the pins upon the surfaces of these sheets through electrolytic action is avoided. Additionally, as the collars and caps are preferably formed of a resilient material, or at least a material softer than the sheets, contact thereof with the sheets substantially eliminates the danger of scratching or other physical damage to the latter during the pickling operation, in which,

as is well understood, the sheets frequently move slightly in one direction or another with respect to the adjacent pins. Moreover, as

the collars project somewhat beyond adjacent surfaces of the pins, it is apparent that if the latter are dropped inadvertently to the floor.

when removing them from or inserting them in thebase or in the course of other handling, the shock lwill be received and largely absorbed by the collars, and thc danger of breakage tothe pins thereby greatly diminished.

With the crates heretofore in use it has been found that considerable wear takes place between the ends of the pins and the sockets, this wear being supplemented by erosion through electrolytic action when the pins and base are of dissimilar metals. In fact, the enlargement of the sockets from one or both of these causes occasionally permits the pins t0 entirely pass therethrough and to fall to the bottom of the pickling tank, thereby damaging the latter and sometimes even piercing it, with resultant necessityfor extensive repairs as well as danger to the workman from the liberation of the acid pickling solution. By the provision of bushings in the sockets in accordance with my'invention, whereby metal to metal contact between the pins and the base is avoided, the wear on the sockets is entirely prevented as well as any electrolytic action etween the pins and the base, so that the life of thebase is virtually indefinitely prolonged, While when the bushings become'so worn after protracted use that they no longer maintain the pins in their proper positions, they can be readilyremoved and "replaced with new ones. As in the crates of. this character heretofore employed, the life of the base is generally determined by the amount of wear and/or erosion of the sockets, the employment of the bushings is thus of material value in reducing `the expense of base replacement.

It will of course beunderstood that when my invention is to'be utilized for a crate in which the pins are rigidl/y maintained in the base by means of ,cooperative threads on the pins and in thesockets as in Fig. 5a, or byi nuts threaded onto projecting lower ends of the pins as in Fig. 5b, the bushings in the sockets will ordinarily be omitted as the elimination of relative movement between the pins and crate substantially negatives the possibility of appreciable wear between the parts.

While l have herein described my invention with considerable particularity and have referred to several embodiments of specific parts thereof, it will be understood that I do not desire or intend thereby to limit or conine myself to any precise details of construction or arrangement as the same are capable of numerous modifications in various particulars if desired without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. A pickling crate of the class described comprising a metallic base having a plurality of sockets arranged in spaced relation and respectively adapted for the reception of pickle pins, and a pickle pin disposed in each of said sockets, cach of said pickle pins comprising a metallic shank and 'spaced collars of electrically non-conductive material disposed thereon and extending beyond the periphery thereof.

2. A pickling crate of the class described comprising a metallic base having aplurality of sockets arranged in spaced relation and respectively adapted for the reception of pickle pins, and a pickle pin disposed in each of said sockets, each of said pins comprising an? end extending into the socket, a shank provided with spaced annular recesses and a collar of electrically non-conductive material disposed in each recess and extending beyond the surface of the shank.

3. A pickling crate of the class described lars of electrically non-conductive materialv` disposed at spaced intervals thereon.

5. A picklmg crate-of the class described comprising a base having a plurality of sockets, electrically non-conductive bushings disposed in said sockets, and pickle pins respectively disposed in said bushings and supported thereby, said pins having annular collars of electrically non-conductive material disposed at spaced intervals thereon, and eleccrate of the class described I trically non-conductive cylindrical caps covt y ering the free ends of the pins.

6. A pickle pin of the class described comprising a shank and a plurality ofelectrically non-conductive collars of greater external diameter than the pins disposed at spacedintervalsthereon. l

l7. A. pickle pin of the class described comprising a. shank having longitudinally spaced 5 annular grooves and electrically non-conductive collars disposed insaid grooves and of greater external diameter than the shank of the pin. y,

8. A pickle pin of the class described com# lo prisng a shank, collars of electrically nonconductive. material disposed at intervals on the shank, and a cylindrical cap formed of electrically non-conductive material enclosing one of its ends and intimately secured thereto. l

9. In a pickling crate of the class described, a metallic base having a plurality of sockets -formed therein and a bushing formed of electrically non-conductive material disposed in each of said sockets.

10. A pickling crate of the class described, comprising a base having a plurality of sockets and pickle pins disposed in said sockets and supported by the base, said pins having on at least a portion thereo electrically nonconductive material.

11. In a pickling crate of the class described, a metallic base having a plurality of sockets formed therein and a bushing formed of electrically non-conductive material disposed in 'each of said socket-s, said bushings respectively providing tapered orifices for the receptionof the ends of the pickle pins.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of February, 1931.

JOHN D. WILLIAMS. 

